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US Army Cadet Command 1st Brigade, Fort Knox

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US Army Cadet Command 1st Brigade is headquartered at Fort Knox, Kentucky, which is an Army installation so large it has property across three counties. Located roughly 35 miles south of Louisville, KY, U.S. Army Cadet Command 1st Brigade is responsible for operating the Army ROTC program in partnerships with universities as well as operating Junior ROTC programs at high schools. The Cadet Command functions as part of the sixth-largest community in the commonwealth of Kentucky. 

Find information about Fort Knox, Kentucky including the main commercial and DSN numbers for the base, information on basic services, base transportation, lodging for TDY and PCSing personnel, and inprocessing.

Mission & Units

There is a diverse collection of missions and units at Fort Knox, the U.S. Army Cadet Command 1st Brigade is part of those missions and units–they operate at Fort Knox as part of the larger military community there alongside the Army Human Resource Center of Excellence, which is responsible for career management for all soldiers. In addition to 1st Brigade, the missions and units at Fort Knox include:

  • 113th Army Band, Accessions Command
  • 19th Engineers
  • 280th Military Police Detachment (CID), 3d MP Group
  • 2nd Squadron 16th Cavalry Regiment
  • 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
  • 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
  • 4th Brigade, 85th Division (TS)
  • 703rd Ordnance Company (EOD)
  • 7th Brigade TS, 100th Division Brigade (IT)
  • 8th/229th Aviation
  • Directorate of Emergency Services Military Police Operations
  • Fort Knox Weather Operations
  • U.S. Army Recruiting Command
  • US Army 3rd Recruiting Brigade
  • US Army Accessions Support Brigade
  • US Army Cadet Command
  • US Army Human Resources Command
  • USA 3rd Recruiting Brigade

History

In 1861 during the Civil War, what would eventually become known as Fort Knox had it’s start as Fort Duffield. West Point field artillery training began in the area, and in 1918 construction began on Camp Knox; this building project was later downsized as a result of cuts made in the National Defense Act of 1920 but in spite of this the camp would become a semi-permanent training center for Reserve officers and the National Guard. 

Camp Knox would grow into Fort Knox and its mission included protecting important historical artifacts and documents including the Gettysburg Address, the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence.

During World War Two, the fort acted as an important Prisoner Of War facility for Axis prisoners including Italian and German POWs. In 1940, a new Armored Force found its home at the fort, with an Armored Force School and Armored Force Replacement Center launching in the same year.

These facilities had a long run–operating until 2010 when the Armor School was relocated to Fort Benning, Georgia. That was part of decisions made by the 2005 Base Realignment And Closure Commission. Fort Knox would gain the 1st Theater Sustainment Command in 2017, and in modern times Fort Knox is described as an important, multifunctional installation with a “central role in recruiting, training and supporting the warfighter,” according to the Fort Knox official site.

Contacts

U.S. Army Cadet Command 1st Brigade Address And Phone Numbers

75 Alsace Street, Bldg 5933
Fort Knox, KY 40121-3031

  • 502-624-1042
  • DSN 312-464-1042

Important Fort Knox Contact Numbers

  • Emergency – 911
  • Post Operator – (502) 624-1000
  • Hospital Main – (502) 624-9333
  • ID Card Section – (502) 624-1667
  • Temporary Lodging – (502) 943-1000
  • Housing Services Office – (502) 624-5824
  • Medical Appointments – (180) 049-39602
  • Dental Clinic Hospital – (502) 624-9670
  • Suicide Prevention Hotline – (800) 273-8255
  • Barracks – (502) 943-1000
  • Welcome Center – (502) 624-7018
  • Civilian Personnel Office – (502) 624-3429
  • Deployment and Mobilization – (502) 624-6291
  • Information and Referral – (502) 624-6291
  • Legal Services and JAG – (502) 624-2771
  • Education Center – (502) 624-4136
  • Child and Youth Services – Central Registration – (502) 624-6703
  • Child and Youth Services (CYS) – (502) 624-6700
  • Commissary And Shoppette
  • Family Advocacy Program – (502) 624-6291
  • Education and Developmental Intervention Services – (502) 624-9552
  • Army Community Service – (502) 624-6291
  • New Parent Support Program – (502) 624-6291
  • In/Out Proc. / Defense Financing and Accounting – (502) 624-4397
  • Travel Pay / Defense Financing and Accounting – (502) 624-8546
  • Family Housing Office – (502) 799-6508
  • Off Post Housing Referral – (502) 799-6508
  • Transient Billeting (OQ,VOQ,VEQ,DVQ) –  (502) 943-1000
  • IHG Army Hotels – (502) 943-1000
  • Victim Advocate Services – (502) 624-6291
  • School Liaison Services – (502) 624-2305
  • Household Goods and Transportation – (502) 624-3927
  • Welcome/Visitors Center – (502) 624-7018

Surrounding Area

The Fort Knox area features Swan Lake State Park, and Sears Island for biking and hiking, and there are lots of attractions for those who love antiques including the Searsport Antique Mall, and the Elizabethtown Peddlers Mall. 

The area is also a draw for World War Two history buffs; the General George Patton Museum is located on base and Fort Knox itself is known to history lovers in the area due to its status as a Civil War state historic site.  Louisville, Kentucky is a very short drive away and there are plenty of distilleries and gift shop opportunities for enthusiasts of Kentucky bourbon and associated culture. 

Louisville is a good destination for sports fans–it is home to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. Bourbon Hall is a destination for live entertainment in Louisville, and the Kentucky Derby Museum will interest fans of horse racing and Americana in general.

Inprocessing and Check-In

In general, new arrivals assigned to Fort Knox as permanent party are directed to report to White Hall, Building 1384, room B2 during normal duty hours. It is best to request a sponsor if you are not already assigned one, and be sure to ask about checking in with your command support staff and in processing procedures that may be unique to the Cadet Command 1st Brigade.

If you need temporary lodging you are directed to check in, then report to New Garden Inn, 406 North Knox Street, Bldg 1327, (502) 943-1000. New arrivals on TDY orders or on temporary duty will report to Army Housing Services located in building 1383 during normal duty hours.

Those arriving after duty hours will check in at the DES building 298 on Gold Vault Road, call (502) 624-6847 for additional information.

Services

Health Care

Members of the Cadet Command can get non-emergency services from Ireland Army Health Clinic, formerly known as Ireland Army Community Hospital. The health clinic features scaled-down services compared to its former mission as a community hospital, but the following routine care clinics are available and urgent care services are also offered:

  • Alcohol & Drug 
  • Allergy Clinic
  • Ambulance Service 
  • Anger Management 
  • Audiology
  • Behavioral Health
  • Exams
  • Child and Family Behavioral Health 
  • Chiropractic
  • Dental Clinic
  • Dermatology
  • Entomology
  • Environmental Health 
  • Exceptional Family Member Program
  • Gynecology
  • Hearing Conservation
  • Immunization

Call for appointments or to discuss Tricare issues at  800-493-9602.

Child Care

Members of the 1st Brigade can get child care services at the Fort Knox Child Development Center (CDC), for children between the ages of six weeks and five years old. There are two CDC facilities on-post offering full-day care, part-day, and hourly care. 

Due to demand, waiting lists apply and part-time/hourly care may require advance planning depending on demand, and mission requirements. Call 502-624-6700, DSN 312-464-6700 for more information or to sign up for childcare waiting lists. You can also take advantage of other child care options like Family Child Care (FCC) which is offered through private, credentialed providers who live in Fort Knox family housing. 

FCC care is for children ages four weeks through fifth grade. Extended care is available evenings and weekends. Call (502) 624-1818 to learn how to sign up.

Household Goods

Members of 1st Brigade can track and manage their household goods shipments to Fort Knox via the Defense Personal Property System. Call the Fort Knox Inbound TMO Section if you need help or more information; call them at (502) 624-3927

Dependent and Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue

All appointments for dependent, retiree, and military member ID card services must be made using the RAPIDS system. Schedule a separate appointment for each person requiring service and be advised that only scheduled appointments will be serviced–walk-ins are generally discouraged.

Sponsors are required to accompany their dependents for ID card services with exceptions for those using a valid General or Special Power of Attorney or a valid DD Form 1172-2.

Schools

Those PCSing to the area can enroll their school-age children at the Fort Knox Community Schools district which includes the following facilities for on-post education:

  • Van Voorhis Elementary School (including pre-K)
  • Kingsolver School (including pre-K)
  • Scott Middle School 
  • Fort Knox High School

The Fort Knox Community Schools system is a part of the Kentucky District of the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools. Families living off-base will send their children to schools based on home address–out-of-district attendance may not be possible. Area schools include:

  • Hardin County Schools
  • Meade County Schools
  • Elizabethtown Ind. Schools

New student registration at these schools may include the following requirements:

  • Birth certificates
  • Shot records
  • Social Security Numbers
  • Copy of the child’s physical exams
  • Proof of address
  • Copy of orders 
  • Custody or guardian papers filed through the court, where applicable

Call Fort Knox School Support Services at 502-624-2305 for help with any school-related issues on-post or off-post.

Housing

Family housing at Fort Knox is privatized and operated by Knox Hills LLC featuring single-family and duplex homes. You must make an appointment with the Fort Knox Housing Services Office BEFORE entering into any legally binding agreement for off-post housing.

All new arrivals to Fort Knox, including members of the 1st Brigade, will have an opportunity to sign up for family housing, unaccompanied housing, or temporary lodging as part of Fort Knox in-processing procedures. It is not required to in-process before visiting the housing office on post, but you must sign in.

Unaccompanied service members E-1 through E-5 are usually assigned on-post housing in the barracks. Report to the Soldier Housing Office for a room assignment. 

PCS and TDY Lodging

Ask your sponsor (or request a sponsor and sort out the arrangements then) to help you with temporary lodging issues if you cannot get temporary lodging on post by using IHG Army Hotels (call for reservations at (502) 943-1000). Due to demand, it is best to make reservations as far in advance as possible.

Transportation

There is no public transportation on post at Fort Knox at the time of this writing. The usual ride sharing, taxi service, and shuttles may be available from the airport to Fort Knox depending on time of day, demand, and other factors.

New arrivals can also get information at the airport USO before departing for the installation. However, due to the distances involved, you may wish to discuss your arrival with your sponsor–the closest airport to Fort Knox is Louisville International Airport (SDF) which is over two hours away by car.

Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License

You do not need a base decal or sticker to access the Fort, but all inbound and outbound traffic is subject to 100% ID checks. Register your privately owned vehicle on post at Building 298, Gold Vault Road, (502) 624-2111. 

All vehicles operating on Fort Knox must comply with Kentucky state law requirements. Those requirements include minimum insurance coverage, seat belt use, hands-free cell phone use requirements, etc.

Kentucky state law requires all drivers to register in the state. There is a specific time frame new arrivals have to register within after arrival and you may be required to obtain a Kentucky drivers license.